| Abstract Scope |
Biomaterials will create a greener future for planet Earth, from fields as diverse as manufacturing and nanotechnology. Often solutions to these problems exist, so it is difficult for a new, superior method to displace the old. As we move humans beyond Earth, to the Moon and Mars, the challenges of supporting human life will need radical new solutions. For example, while life on Earth uses an enzymatic machinery which evolved over 3.5 billion years ago, synthetic biology promises to be able to engineer the systems to adapt to current natural or industrial environments. A focus on solutions off planet require a focus on a circular economy. While there are new constraints, such as worrying about the mass of a solution, constraints offer opportunities for game-changing solutions that will then allow revolutions back on our home planet. Example projects include biomining and fungal-based habitats off planet with a focus on biomaterials. |